(LE MARS)--A popular patriotic image is the top wood carving auction item from the Plymouth County Fair Auction.

During the auction Sunday afternoon, Bruce Brock of Brock Auction Company asked chainsaw artist A-J Lutter how he did his carvings from wooden logs. Lutter used few words to describe his fair work of turning wood from trees donated by the Del Kellen family into 14 carvings of everything from eagles to bears.Listen here

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Dave and Mary Kay Hoffman of Le Mars paid the top bid--22 hundred dollars--for an eagle on a flag. Anthony Trucking of Le Mars bid the top price of $1,250 for a Big Bear with a welcome sign. Ray Hoffman Junior's bid of $950 was the purchase price for a dog howling at the moon.

Brock opened the auction of Geri Dreckman's Barn Quilts of Plymouth County with what seven minutes later was the winning bid--$10,000.Listen here

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Pam and Greg Wells of Le Mars bought the Fair Auction quilt.

Jerome Dreckman bought the four collectible belt buckles portraying the Brainerd, Minnesota chainsaw artist for a total of 24-hundred dollars.

Two benches made from the 4-H and FFA Dairy Barn wood were auctioned to Rich Benson of rural Remsen for $500 and $250 to Dennis Baldwin of rural Merrill. Jerry Gorrell of Le Mars created the benches with lumber from the building which was taken down after the 2009 Fair.

Dave and Pat Lehner and Paul Gengler, both of Le Mars, each bought a collectible toy Fair Truck for $225.

The 10-gallon milk cans were auctioned off to Don Schultz, Kevin Pratt, and First National Bank for a total of $190.

Theatre will present Steinbeck classic

(LE MARS) "Hello Dolly," presented by the Le Mars Community Theater, played to sold out crowds all weekend. Their last of eight performances was Sunday's matinee.

Show producer Audrey Scholten said working on this performance was a joy and she feels having an outlet to showcase the arts is important for the community.Listen here

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Scholten, who is also a member of the Le Mars Community Theater Board of Directors, said that their next production will be "Of Mice and Men." The play, based on John Steinbeck's famous novel, tells the tragic story of two displaced migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression in California. This will be a change of pace for the players, as they usually do more comedic shows. "Of Mice and Men" will be directed by Larry Brangwin and will take stage at the Postal Playhouse in late October. (News report by Angela Drake of KLEM News)

DNR reports flooding of livestock storage basin

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) Rising river water has flooded a manure storage basin near Sioux Center.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the basin was inundated by water from the west branch of the Floyd River.

The basin was used for an 800-head hog operation owned by Farmers Cooperative Society. The flood waters didn't reach the building where the hogs are housed.

About 50 dead fish were found surrounding the basin.

The DNR says the basin will be pumped once the flood waters recede. .

the paving project is 70 percent done, and up to 90 percent of the runway's surface has been poured.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Iowa's King raises profile with conservative views

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa Rep. Steve King has never been shy about offering his opinion, but this year he has taken even stronger positions on topics ranging from immigration to President Barack Obama's views on issue of race.

King, a Republican who represents western Iowa's 5th District, acknowledged he's tried to raise his profile in an effort to push the GOP to the right and see like-minded candidates elected to Congress.

To do that, he's begun appearing frequently on conservative national television and radio shows, plus traveling around the country to campaign for candidates.

Although his statements have been criticized by Democrats and others, King doesn't appear to be hurting himself in his conservative district. He won a fourth term two years ago with 60 percent of the vote.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Pawlenty's Iowa swing may foreshadow 2012 bid

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is pushing across eastern Iowa with stops at a country club and country farm during a three-day trip that could be a preview of a 2012 presidential run.

Pawlenty says he's in Iowa to help Republicans on the fall ballot. At stops in Dubuque, Waverly and Cedar Rapids, he has promoted local candidates and left most with a check from his political fund.

But he's also been building connections with opinion leaders who will prove critical if he enters the presidential race. Iowa hosts the leadoff caucuses that start the nominating process.

The political die-hards giving up summer days to scope Pawlenty out say he's made a good initial impression, but it will take more than one visit to seal their support.

Iowans asked to call utilities if can't pay bills

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Utilities Board is asking residents who are having troubles paying their utility bills to contact their utility and directly work out a solution.

The board says in a news release that utilities can help customers come up with a plan to pay for their utility debts. The IUB says this will help customers avoid losing service. The board says options are often available if residents aren't in default on a previous utility payment agreement.

Such agreements would take into account a resident's income, expenses and any financial circumstances.

Residents can contact the IUB for assistance if they still have questions after they have contacted their utility.

Floods prompt Cedar Rapids to replace escalators

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) The 2008 flooding and changing building use have combined to leave Cedar Rapids nearly bereft of escalators.

Apart from a restored escalator in the U.S. Bank downtown office, escalators have been replaced with staircases.

All downtown escalators were damaged by flooding, but historian Mark Hunter says their removal also reflects the loss of department stores in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Architect Steve Emerson notes that as the buildings were used for different purposes, there was no reason to spend thousands of dollars on repairs and replacement.

Thousands of Iowa soldiers prepare to deploy

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) Iowa is preparing for its largest deployment of troops since World War II as thousands of soldiers are set to leave for overseas duty through early August.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley's office says the congressmen attended an Iowa National Guard send-off ceremony Sunday in Davenport for a group of soldiers. Braley's office says the deployment will affect about 2,800 soldiers from more than 30 Iowa communities.

Braley says the ``thoughts and prayers of Iowans'' go with the soldiers on their deployments. He says Iowans are grateful for their ``sacrifice and bravery.''

Volunteers needed for Iowa State Fair Sew-In

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa State Fair is looking for volunteers to sew and quilt.

For a second year, the state fair is sponsoring a Sew-In each day of the fair from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Sew-In involves volunteers sewers and quilters providing warm blankets for local needy children. State fair officials say sewing experience isn't necessary and there will be sewing assistants available to help.

Last year volunteers made 173 quilts that were donated to the University of Iowa Children's Hospitals and the Angel Tree Camps. This year's goal is to complete 200 quilts over 11 days.

The fair will be from August 12-22 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.